Abstract

We review a powerful regularization method, known as CONTIN, for obtaining the size distribution of colloidalsuspensions from dynamic light scattering data. We show that together with the so-called L-curve criterion for selecting the optimal regularization parameter, the method correctly describes the average size and size distribution of microgelsuspensions independently characterized using small-angle neutron scattering. In contrast, we find that when using the default regularization process, where the regularizer is selected via the “probability to reject” method, the results are not as satisfactory.

This research was supported by the ACS PRF (No. PRF 50603-DNI7), the Swiss National Science Foundation (No. 200020_153050), and by TAPS International Co., Ltd.

Article outline:I. INTRODUCTIONII. THEORYA. The optimal regularization parameterB. Steps of the algorithmIII. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS AND METHODSIV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONV. L-CURVE VS. PROBABILITY TO REJECTA. The probability to reject methodB. The influence of the measuring timeC. The influence of the decay rate rangeD. The influence of NgVI. CONCLUSION

Key Topics

[Colloid chemistry, e.g. the production of
colloidal materials or their solutions, not otherwise provided for; Making
microcapsules or microballoons, Colloid chemistry, e.g. the production of colloidal materials or their solutions, not otherwise provided for; Making microcapsules or microballoons]